Switch-cam mechanism for circular-knitting machines.



H. SWINGLEHURST.

. SWITCH CAM MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. I9I 5.

1 1 92,473 Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

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idifi'LSSfl-S' liq/0,22%?" mm m H. SWINGLEHURST. SWITCH CAM MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATON FILED JAN. 30. 1915- 1 ,1 92,473. Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY SWINGLEHURST, OF LACONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SCCT'I' & I WILLIAMS, INCORPORATED, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 25, 1916.

Original application filed October 5, 1911, Serial No. 653,002. Divided and this application filed January I 30, 1915. Serial No. 5,291.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY SWINGLE- n'nas'r, citizen of the United States, and resident of Laconia, in the county of Belknap and State of New Hampshire, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Cam Mechanism for Circular-Knitting Machines, of. which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to'circular stocking knitting machines and more particularlyto means for elevating the instep needles prior to beginning narrowing and widening for the formation of heels and toes.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a circular knitting machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 1s a detail section on a line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view; Fig. 4 is a detail representing the switch cam when elevated in side elevation; Fig. 5 is a detail showing in vertical section the switch cam, its support, and a portion of its operating means.

I have elected to illustrate my invention as applied to a circular knitting machine of the general type disclosed in the patent to George D. Mayo, 726,178 dated April 21, 1903, but in the particular machine illustrated the needle cylinder is rotatable and the cam ring is relatively stationary, although the reverse construction, as in said patent, may be employed so far as certain features of the invention are concerned.

The knitting machine to which I have represented my invention as applied, is provided with a single stitch cam, it being understood that if the machine be a multi-feed machine, it will be provided with a single or other stitch cam for each yarn feed.

So far as certain features of the invention are concerned, the character of the knit Y February 17, 1914) and in my application Serial No. 653,002 filed October 5, 1911, of which last mentioned application this apfication is a division, I have shown, described and claimed means for imparting movement to a cam ring of a machine of the type of the said Mayo patent, but arranged for rotation of the needle cylinder. As'originally disclosed but not now claimed in my said application Serial No. 653,002, I provide in connection with the devices of my said patent and my said application coacting means for operating a switch cam for rendering substantially one half of the needles inactive during narrowing and widening, and for accomplishing other functions, as more fully set forth hereinafter.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the needle cylinder is represented at 1, the said cylinder being supported upon the bed plate 2 and having a flange by which rotary motion is imparted thereto by a beveled gear upon the main drive shaft of the machlne. Surrounding the needle cylinder is a cam ring 3 preferably mounted on a fixed ring on the bed plate 2 so as to be free to turn thereon. By preference, the cam ring is positively moved to the desired extent on each change in the direction of movement of the needle cylinder. For this purpose, I have herein shown the mechanism of my said application Serial No. 653,002 comprising levers 5 and 6 and means 7, 8, 9, 11, etc., for connecting them to the rock shaft 144, rocked by pitman 142 forming a part of the prior machine, at times controlled by a pin 13 on a vertical shaft 92 moved at the beginning and end of knitting the heel and toe or whenever the machine changes from rotary to reciprocal knitting, or vice versa, and corresponding to a similar shaft in said Mayo patent. The levers 5 and 6 operate through the connections 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, the cam ring 3 of the machine of my said application.

Within the scope of my invention, I may shift the cam ring at the indicated intervals otherwise than in a positive manner,

and if desired as indicated in said application.

The machine herein disclosed is provided with suitable picker mechanism to act upon individual needles in narrowing and widening, said mechanism being of any suitable type and such for example as disclosed in my Letters Patent No. 1,057,782. dated April 1, 1913.

In order to elevate the instep) needles prior to the commencement of narrowing and widening, and also when desired to elevate all the needles to permit removal of the needle cylinder or for other purpose, I provide a switch cam 21 having means operatively connected to a moving part of the machine to move said cam into elevated and depressed position with respect to the needles. Said switch cam is so constructed and mounted as to be capable of manual movement from its elevated to its depressed position. I provide means to prevent manual movement to lift said switch cam when it is in its depressed position, making it impossible for the operator to place said switch cam in an inoperative and wrong position when the machine is knitting heel or toe, the devices providing mechanical connections to effect the automatic elevation of the cam at the proper time.

The switch cam, shown most clearly in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, is represented at 21, it being provided with a spindle 22 loosely mounted in a hub or socket 23 and having fast thereon a hand wheel 24 by which at proper times it may be rocked. Within a longitudinally recessed portion 25 of the hub or socket 23 is a coiled spring 26 surrounding the spindle 22 and tending to force the switch cam 21 radially inward against the needles. The hub or socket 23 is rotatably mounted within a bearing in the bracket 27 secured to the bed plate of the machine. In the top of the bracket 27 is an inclined or cam slot 28 within whichpla-ys a screw or roller 29 extended from the periphery of the socket 23 so that when a movement of rotation is imparted to said socket the cam slot, through the roller 29, imparts a slight axial movement to said socket 23 and consequently to the switch cam 21. The

' outer end of the socket 23 is provided with a groove 30 into which is adapted to take a projection or key 31 upon the hand wheel 24. When said key or projection is engaged with said slot the switch cam cannot be given a manual rotative movement, but when the spindle 22 has been drawn outward by the hand wheel 24 so as to release said key 31 from the slot 30 then the spindle 22 may be rotated by hand to oscillate the switch cam. Such manual oscillation can, however, only take place to rock the switch cam from elevated to depreswd position, because when the switch cam has been mechanically moved by the connections to be hereinafter described, from an elevated to a depressed position, then the screw or roller 29 moves to the outer end of the slot 28 or to the right viewing Fig. 3, thereby moving the socket 23 longitudinally or axially outward to such an extent that the shoulder 32 upon said switch cam is drawn so near to the inner notched edge 33 of the bearing 27 shown in Fig. 3 that there is not sufiicient play between said shoulder 32 and the edge 33 to permit the key 31 to be retracted from the groove 30. Thus manual manipulation of the switch cam cannot be eifected when the said cam has been automatically moved to depressed position.

In order to impart movement to the switch cam mechanically in both directions, I may employ any suitable construction. I have herein shown for that purpose anarm 34 fast upon the shaft 92 near its upper end, said arm being connected by a link 35 to a ring 36 rotatably supported in suitable guides upon the under side of the bed plate of the machine. As previously described, a movement of partial rotation is imparted to the shaft 92 when the machine changes from rotary to reciprocal movement and the reverse. Therefore, at such changes in the character of the knitting, the ring 36 is moved through the desired arc. Upon the ring 36 is a cam 37 having therein a cam way or slot 38 into which takes a pin 39 on an arm 40 having a socket 41 receiving a. spindle42 rotatably mounted in the bed plate of the machine and having at its upper end an arm 43 pivotally connected by link 44 to a short link 45, itself connected by bolt 46 to a projection 47 upon the socket 23 of the switch cam. Contraclockwise movement of the ring 36 viewing Fig. 3 moves the outer end of the arm 40 outward and correspondingly moves the links 44 and 45 inward so as to rock the switch cam from the elevated to depressed position.

\Vhen the point of the switch cam 21 is depressed, and sleeve 23 is in its outward position, spindle 22 and hand wheel 24 are held under stress of spring 26 radially inward far enough to encounter the high butt needles, the key 31 being held seated in the groove 30 by spring 26. When all of the high butt needles have been moved up to their idle path, and socket 23 is operated to lift cam 21 to switch down the needles, cam groove 28 causes socket 23, the spindle, spring and cam to move inward together to a position taking cam 21 far enough inward to depress the low butt needles.

By the described constructions the switch cam, the spindle 22 and hand wheel 24 may be released from engagement with the rotatable socket 23 when in their upper position, and when the socket 23 is in its inmost position. This capacity of my device permits the switch cam 21 to be turned by hand to its depressed position, to then permit it under the influence of its spring 26 to move inward first against the faces of the butts of the'low butt needles, to move the leading high butt needles and then to enter all the way to move the low butt needles, thereby permitting the switch cam 21 to be employed as a needle leveling cam to bring all of the needles above the level of the knitting cam and the pickers, for removal of the needle tea cylinder with the needles therein or for the transfer of fabric.

Having thus described one embodiment of 'my invention, I desire it tobe understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. Knitting mechanism for rotary and reciprocal knitting comprising in combina tion, a needle cylinder, a jcam ring, means to impart relative rotation] and reciprocation thereto, a switch cam automatically movable into elevated and depressed positions, means permitting manual movement of said cam, and means adapted to prevent manual movement of said switch cam into elevated position from a depressed position automatically attained.

2. Knitting mechanism for rotary and reciprocal knitting comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to impart relative rotation and reciprocation thereto, a pivoted switch cam, means connected to a moving part of the machine to move said cam into elevated and depressed positions, means permitting manual move ment of said cam and means to prevent manual movement of said switch cam into elevated position from a depressed position caused by said means.

3. A knitting machine having means for rotary and reciprocal knitting comprising a needle cylinder, high and low butt needles therein, a cam ring, means to impart relative rotation and reciprocation thereto, a switch cam and actuating means therefor acting to switch up the high butt needles and switch down all the needles, and means permitting manual movement of said cam to level the needles in combination with automatic means for preventing manual movement to switch up the needles contrary to the indication of said actuating means.

4. Knitting mechanism for rotary and reciprocal knitting comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to impart relative rotation and reciprocation thereto, a pivoted switch cam to render a series of successive needles active and inactive, said cam being manually movable from an elevated position to depressed position, and means operatively connected with the moving parts of the machine to raise the cam into elevated position, said means being adapted to prevent manual movement from a depressed position attained thereby.

5. Knitting mechanism for rotary and reciprocal knitting comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to impart relative rotation and reciprocation thereto, a switch cam movable into elevated and depressed positions to render a series of successive needles active or inactive, means for locking said cam against manual movement from a depressed position, and means connected to a moving part of the machine to raise the cam into elevated position, said locking means permitting manual movement when the cam is elevated. i

6. Knitting mechanism for rotary and reciprocal knitting comprising in combination a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to impart relative rotation and reciprocation thereto, a radially movable switch cam mounted for movement into elevated and depressed positions, means connected to a moving part of the machine to raise the cam into elevated position, said cam being manually movable both radially and from elevated to depressed position, and means to,

hold said cam against elevating movement from a depressed position caused by said connection by hand.

7. Knitting mechanism for rotary and reciprocal knitting comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to impart relative rotation and reciprocation thereto, a pivoted switch cam, a spring to force the same inwardly, a handle for manual manipulation of said cam, and means movable circumferentially of the machine to move the cam into elevated and depressed positions.

8. Knitting mechanism for rotary and reciprocal knitting comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to impart relative rotation and reciprocation thereto, a switch cam movable into elevated and depressed positions, a cam movable circumferentially of the machine, operative connections between said cam and said switch cam, and means active periodically upon said circumferentially movable cam to move the switch cam into elevated and depressed positions.

9. Knitting mechanism for rotary and reciprocal knitting comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to impart relative rotation and reciprocation thereto, a pivoted switch cam, a spindle carrying the same, a hub wherein said spindle is mounted, means connected to said hub and to a driven part of the machine to elevate and depress the switch cam, and means connected to said spindle whereby the switch cam may be manually moved only from elevated to depressed position when said connection is positioned to depress said cam.

10. Knitting mechanism for rotary and reciprocal knitting comprising in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, a cam ring which during knitting bears a fixed relation to the yarn guide, a shaft, operative connections between said shaft and said cam ring to move the latter upon change in direction of movement of the needle cylinder, a switch cam movable into elevated and depressed positions, and operative connections from said shaft to said switch cam to shift the latter.

11. Knitting mechanism forrotary and reciprocal knitting comprising in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, acam ring which-during knitting bears a fixed relation to the yarn guide, a shaft, connectionsfrom said shaft to said cam ring to move the latter uponchanges of direction of the movement of the needle cylinder during narrowing and widening, a switch cam movable .into elevated and depressed positions, and

operative connections between said shaft 7 and said switch cam to shift the latter prior a'nd subsequent to narrowing and widening. 12. A knitting machine having in combination needles a stitch cam therefor, and switch 'cam mechanism comprising a switch cam, a socket coaxial therewith, automatic means to rock said socket on its axis to switch the needles, means connecting said switch cam and said socket, and means permitting the release of said means in one position of said switch cam only.

13. A switch cam mechanism for knitting machines comprising a switch cam, a spindle therefor, a socket surrounding said spindle,

copies of this patent may be obtained for a spring in said socket for holding said switch cam toward its place for operation, a

mounting for said socket comprising a cam slot, means to rock said socket to elevate one end of said cam and moveit bodily toward its placefor work,;;andmeans normally connecting said socket: and spindle for rotation together, said means. permitting said spindle and socket to be unlocked when said cam is elevated.

14. A switch cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising a radially dis--- posed bracket, a socket in said bracket, a spindle in saidsocket, a pointed switch cam fast at one end to said spindle, means for keying said socket and spindle together, and means for causing longitudinal movement "of said socket in said bracket when said socket is rotated in one direction whereby to lock said keying means from release when five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C." 

